Before there was “Elder Law”? Jeff Marshall, Esq. remembers…
ElderLawGuy Jeff Marshall has always been a bit ahead of his time, including being among the first to recognize that aging can carry with it a distinct set of legal issues. Not every lawyer is equipped to deal with families facing dramatic changes, whether in terms of temperament or legal knowledge. Jeff constantly stays on top of new developments, in both law and technology. For example, read here how Jeff uses “tweeting” as a tool, to help him stay current on the law, and engaged with the wider world. Jeff has often inspired me, from the moment of my first “big” meeting with him here in Pennsylvania almost 20 years ago, at a little conference on a very cold winter day in Wilkes Barre. It is hard to believe, but he’s been a specialist in elder and estate law for 35 years! Here’s part of the tale, from the Sun-Gazette.com:
When attorney Jeff Marshall returned home in 1980 his vision, according to a news release, was to found a law firm that would serve the needs of older adults. A native of Lock Haven, Marshall had graduated from Stanford Law School in 1972 and had remained in California for the rest of that decade. By 1980 he was ready to return to his roots in Pennsylvania.
At the time, there was no such thing as an “elder law firm.” But Marshall recognized that his older clients faced a complicated array of legal, financial, and health care issues, the news release said. Their legal planning needed to be coordinated with non-legal concerns to best protect their dignity, comfort and self-determination. So he set about putting together a team of professionals with backgrounds in law, nursing, social work, and care management who were able to meet his client’s broad needs.
Thirty-five years later the seeds he planted have grown into one of the most respected elder law and estate planning law firms in Pennsylvania with four offices in Williamsport, Jersey Shore, Wilkes-Barre and Scranton…. The firm celebrated its 35th anniversary at its 19th Annual Professional Updates held on May 6 in Williamsport and May 7 in Scranton.
Congratulations — and thank you — Jeff!